Heap vs Umami — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Heap and Umami to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Umami takes the lead with a 4.4 rating and is best for developers who want free self-hosted analytics. Heap (4.2) is the better pick if you need teams without analytics engineering resources who want comprehensive product analytics..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Heap | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.2(123) | ★★★★ 4.4(57) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | open-source |
| Starter Price | Custom pricing (Growth) | $9/mo (cloud) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web | web, docker |
| Learning Curve | medium | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Teams without analytics engineering resources who want comprehensive product analytics. | Developers who want free self-hosted analytics |
| Verdict | situational | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Heap | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic event capture | — | |
| Retroactive analytics | — | |
| Funnel and retention analysis | — | |
| Session replay | — | |
| Effort analysis (friction detection) | — | |
| Journey mapping | — | |
| Self-hostable | — | |
| Privacy-focused | — | |
| Custom events | — | |
| Multiple websites | — | |
| Realtime dashboard | — |
Heap
Pros
- ✓Auto-capture means no manual event tracking required
- ✓Retroactive analysis answers questions you did not anticipate
- ✓Effort analysis automatically finds high-friction flows
Cons
- ✕Opaque pricing with no self-serve plans
- ✕Auto-capture can capture noisy, irrelevant data
- ✕Less precise than manual instrumentation for specific use cases
Umami
Pros
- ✓Free and open source
- ✓Beautiful clean UI
- ✓Easy to self-host
Cons
- ✕Self-hosting requires technical skill
- ✕Fewer features than GA
- ✕Cloud tier is limited
The Bottom Line
Both Heap and Umami are solid tools in the Analytics & Data space. Umami edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and is the better choice for developers who want free self-hosted analytics. However, if you prioritize teams without analytics engineering resources who want comprehensive product analytics., Heap is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.